Nikhil Plettner Booker

Nikhil Plettner Booker is a junior at San Diego High School. He is the founder and executive director of Youth to End Solitary SD. He is an international baccalaureate student, has won several academic awards, and has also founded the Students for Prison and Criminal Justice Reform club at his school. He is deeply interested in policy and political science, specifically economic justice and correctional reform. He is an Aaron Price Fellow, member of the APIDA Board for the San Diego Unified School district, and has also served as an evaluation judge for a million-dollar grant with Prebys Sparx aimed at giving arts-based educational enrichment to youth. Apart from his interest in political advocacy, Nikhil is a passionate athlete and musician. He is a singles varsity tennis player, CIF Division 1 finalist, and was also a 1st violin for the district's Honors Orchestra ensemble.

Founder & Executive Director

June York

June York is a junior attending San Diego High School. She takes a number of International Baccalaureate classes and enjoys learning. She is involved in many clubs, including Class of 2027, Sustainability, and Students for Prison and Criminal Justice Reform, holding leadership positions such as vice president. Outside of school, she is a part of the Aaron Price Fellows Program and takes dance classes, specializing in many styles. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and spending time with her friends and family. She is extremely excited to be working at YesSD to try to make our world a better place.

Communications Co-Director

Communications Co-Director

Solana Pizarro-Steussy

Solana Pizarro Steussy is a student at San Diego High. She is president and captain of the varsity badminton team at her school. Her interest is piqued by marketing, neuroscience, and cognitive psychology. With these interests in mind she interned at Child Mind Institute in their youth mental health academy where she was able to present her findings on the ideal school structure for students mental health. This interest in the ideal conditions for the mental health of students extends to the prison system, and the reality of the atrocities prisons within solitary confinement exist in inspired her to join the effort to reform the system. She hopes to utilize this interest to understand the damage done to prisoners' mental health and spread the word of the conditions to a larger audience.

Communications Co-Director

Amaya Widener

Amaya Widener is a junior at San Diego High School. She is passionate about youth engagement and education. She hopes to get youth involved in the fight against mass incarceration and to educate the masses on the conditions within prisons. She is also deeply interested in mental health and psychological issues that are exacerbated within carceral facilities. Additionally, Amaya is an Aaron Price Fellow, volleyball player and Gold Honor Roll student.

Director of Logistics

Dora Phan

Dora is a student at Hoover High School where she is involved in extracurricular activities on and off campus. Dora has played in varsity badminton for 2 years and varsity tennis for 1 year. Passionate as a musician, she plays piano for her church as an accompanist. Dora is an Aaron Price Fellow, a member of FACES for the Future, and a past presenter at the CCTE innovation showcase where she informed audiences about the health benefits of aromatherapy. She is interested in health and social services and enjoys serving her community. Through these activities, Dora has gained and developed skills in leadership, communication, and coordination.

Yasmeen Elmezein

Editorial Director

Aleksandra Nicheva

Aleksandra Nicheva is a student at San Diego High School. She is the co-president of her schools Sustainability Club and a member of Students for Prison and Criminal Justice Reform. She is very involved in her community through extensive volunteer work at local schools and non-profits. At school she is taking various International Baccalaureate classes, she also takes multiple Honors classes which are part of her school's MedTech program. When she’s not at school, Aleksandra has many hobbies, a few include playing violin, drawing, reading, and playing tennis. She has been a part of the district wide VAPA honors orchestra as a 1st violin and continues to hone her playing skills.

Editorial Director

Yasmeen Elmezain is a Palestinian spoken word poet, public speaker, and activist from San Diego, CA. Growing up as the proud granddaughter of a political prisoner, her family’s history shaped her commitment to community advocacy, activism, and civic engagement from a young age. She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Commander, President of the Muslim Student Association, President of the Middle Eastern North African Club, and is an Aaron Price Fellow. Yasmeen has received multiple awards for her journalistic work, including the Truth to Power Award.

Luca Chang

Director of Legislative Affairs

Ashley Ordaz

Ashley Ordaz attends University City High School. At a young age, she was known for her curiosity and strong opinions. Her ambition continued to grow as the years passed. She has always loved trying new things since she was young, ranging from playing sports and instruments to trying to learn new languages and becoming a big attribute in her community. For the past three years, she has served as an executive member of Associated Student Body (ASB), where her leadership and organizational skills have left an impact. Ashley is proud to be an Aaron Price Fellow, Young and Prosperous member and media manager of her school’s Black Student Union. In addition, she has planned numerous volunteer events in her community, further emphasizing her dedication to service.

Director of Financial Affairs

Luca Chang is a student at San Diego high school and an Aaron Price fellow. At school he is the president of his school’s MedTech academy which helps to shape his views on the importance of proper physical and mental care. Later in life he hopes to explore business and entrepreneurship, which lead him to his role as Finical manger within YesSD. Outside of academics he enjoys volleyball and soccer, video games, and spontaneous adventures with friends.

Our Team